Sanding device for vehicles



Sept. 27, L932.

SANDING DEVICE FOR VEHICLES Filed June a, 1951 5.. 1/ f 4/ 16 Z 4 47 a 58 '54 x 1 /A o 27 37 26 /7 40 51 54 F5 J0 .5? 1 if I INVENTOR 55 4! Loren lu a vfi'a'ns m ATTORNEYS L. HOPKINS 1,879,747

Patented Sept. 27, 1932 LOREN L. Horkms, or WOODGLIFF, new JERSEY SANDING DEVICE FOR VEHICLES Application filed. June 3, 1931. Serial No. 541,789 7 Sand-applying devices have heretofore been proposed for preventing or retarding the skidding of cars on wet roads. One difficulty encountered in the use of such devices can be attributed to the fact that the sand is exposed to the air, especially on rainy or snowy weather, and cannot be kept dry. Consequently, the sand does not flow freely and quickly at the instant desired. Also, in constructions hitherto proposed, the sand containers have bee-n remote from the sand ejection end of the device, and have been connected thereto by a comparatively long conduit. In these long conduits, has a tendency to harden, and the conduit ofiers resistance to the flow, thereby adding to the difficulty of ejecting the sand from the device.

One object of the present sand container disposed close to the ejection endof said device.

ect 1s lZO'PI'OVldB a devlce 1n Another ob] which the sandis sealed from the action of rain or snow, and protected against splash ing water caused by the driving of the car on wet roads. y

A further object is to provide a sanding device mounted on the running board of an automobile, and having a sand container which may be mounted and dismounted with facility; i

In the accompanying drawing, there is shown for the purpose of illustration, one form of device embodying the invention, in which Fig. 1is a somewhat diagrammatic plan view of the rear portion of an automobile provided with my improved apparatus mounted thereon.

Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section through the apparatus and runningboard of the automobile.

Fig. 8 is a section taken on Fig. 2, but somewhat enlarged.

line 3-3 of the sand invention is to provide a compact sandmg device having 1ts Fig. 4 is. a horizontalsection taken on line4-4 of Fig. 2, and

' Fig. 5 is a section-taken on line 55'of Fig. 4, and on a larger scale. In the illustrated embodiment of thepresent invention, the sanding device is-mounted on the running board ofan automobile, just in front of the rear mudguard 11, so as to be disposed directly in front of the rear wheel 12. Two of such devices are provided, one on either side of the car,*each of said devices including a sand container having a bag-like portion 13 opened at the lowerend, and made of strong water-proof material which is sufliciently flexible to permit bending, and to permit collapsing of the container as the sand is delivered therefrom. The open end of the bag 13 is closed by a plate or disc member 14 preferably made of wood, and having a groove 15 on the periphery. thereof.

In order to connect the bag 13 to the plate or bottom 14, a Wire strap 16 is bound around the outside of the lower end of the bag to press the bag wall into the groove-'15. The ends of the strap 16 are firmly held together, and are preferably provided with means for locking the'bag 13 to the running board of the car. For that purpose, I have shown the wire strap 16 as having an end portion 17 thereof offset outwardly from the general configuration of said strap, and convoluted to form two eyelets 18 and 19. The other endof the strap 16 is provided with a portion 20 bent back on itself, and adapted to fit into the space 21 formed between the outside of the bag wall and the offset portion 17 of the other end'of said strap. The end portion of the strap adjoining the reverse bent portion 20 is convoluted to form two eyelets 22 and 23 disposed in aligned position with the two eyelets 18 and 19 respectively. Passing through the aligned eyelets 18 and 22 is a bolt 24 by means of which the wire strap 16 maybe drawn tightly around the sand bag formed of wire mesh and 32 extending around the 13 to bind the latter to the plate member 14. The bottom or plate member of the container rests on the running board, and in order to lock said sand container in place thereon, there is screwed or otherwise connectedto said running board an eyebolt or screw eye 25, the eyelet portion of which is disposed between the loops 19 and 23. The sand bag is locked to the plate member 14, and the container is locked to the running board, by means of a padlock 26 passing through the alignedeyelets 19' and 23, and the eyelet of the screw eye 25.

The bottom of the sand container has connected thereto a tubular member 27 projecting through a hole in the running board, for delivering sand from the p rear wheels, or on the road in the direct path of these wheels. This tubular member 27 is advantageously cylindrical in shape, and has the upper end thereof passing through opening in the platemember 14. Extend-- ing across the top of the tubular member 27 is a plate 28 secured to the plate member 14,

as for instance, by means of screws'29. The tubular member 24 may be rigidly connected to this plate 28 by any suitable means, as for instance soldering, and communicates with the interior offthe sand container through a small'aperture 30 in the plate 28.

When thesa'nd in the container is damp,

cakes or lumps may form therein, which if permitted'to pass into the tubular member 27 may bind thereinand prevent free ejec' tion of the sand. To these sand cakes into the tubular member 27 there is provided a screen 31 preferably sha-ped in conical form. This screen 31 has'a peripheral flange held in place by thescr ews 29. By providing a conical screen, any cakes 'or lumps'that might find their way-to the conical surface of thesoreen would not, as in the case of a flat screen,rest thereon, but would move downalong the conical sides of said screen the base thereof,

member, and collect about leaving the conical surface portion of the screen free for the passage therethrough of the finer grains of sand.

The opening in the running board, through which the tubular member 27 passes may be linedwith a sleeve 34 which may be held in placeby screws 35 passing through a flange 36 extending outwardly from the upper end of said sleeve. The sleeve 34 may havea frictional engagement with the member 27 while pe-rmittingsaid tubular member to be easily pulled out when desired.

Near the lower end of the tubular member 27, and inside'thereof'is disposed a nozzle member 37 which may be connected to said tubular member by rivetsor other suitable means. The lower ejection end of the nozzle member 37 is conical in shape and is spaced across the her 27 sand bag13-to the prevent the passage of base thereof, and

above the lower ejection endof the tubular member 27 The ejection opening of the nozzle member 37 is closed by aclosure member or valve 38 having a stem 40 rigidly connected thereto, and terminating in a knob 41 at the lower end thereof.

In order to normally keep the valve 38 closed and in firm seating relationship with the outlet of the nozzle 37, resilient means are provided which is shown as a coil spring 42, the lower end of which is connected to an eyelet 43 formed at the upper end of the stem 40. The upperend of the spring 42 engages a rod 44 extending diametrically upper end of the tubular n1em- For actuatingthe closure member 38, there is secured to the bottom of the running board 10 a. bracket. 47, having a valve operating member 48 pivotally mounted on said brackst, and normally held in valve closing position by aacoil spring 50. This member 48is shown'as comprising a supporting member 51 and a plate member 52, the plate member being normally disposed across the lower end of the tubular member 27, and provided with a keyhole shaped opening 53 through which extends the stem 40. The supporting member 51 extends alongside the tubular member 27. The larger part-of the opening is normally so disposed that in lifting the sand container knob 41 may freelypass up through the opening, but upon swinging the plate member, the stem 40 enters the smaller part 54 of the opening, and the knob cannot pass therethrough.

To open the valve 38 of the nozzle member off the running board, the

to a place readily accessible to the driver of the car. Thechain55 may be connected to a Suitable foot pedal or hand lever 56 near the drivers seat. i r

When it is desired to apply sand to the periphery of the wheels 12 or to the road directly in front. thereof, the pedal 56is moved causing thereby the member 48-to move against the action of the coil spring 50 from the normal position shown in solid lines to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2. As the member 48 moves, the notch 54 of the plate member 52 engages the stem 40 and swings it into the position shown .in

dotted lines, one side of the lower edge of the nozzle member 37 acting as a fulcrum. The knob 41 at the end of the stem 40 serves to effect the interengagement of said stem and the plate member 52 when said plate member has been shifted to bring said stem into the notch 54.

While the plate member 52 is moving to the position where. the notch 54 engages the stem, the closure member 38is in closed posi- .1 to replace the tion. This construction permits a certain amount of play in the angular member 48 without affecting the position of the stem 40, and serves thereby to prevent the release of sand from the interior of the tubular member due merely to the vibration and jars set up in the car. This construction also serves to prevent water from splashing or being thrown into the tubular member 27.

Immediately upon t ie shifting of the member 38 into open position, the sand collected in the chamber of the tubular member 27 above the nozzle 37 will flow out almost instantly, so that upon initial skidding action of the car, a large mass of sand will be thrown into the path of the wheel 12. This sand may actually come in contact with the rear wheels before striking the road, or may fall on the road in the direct path of these rear wheels, and then stick to the wet wheels when they pass over it. Subsequent to this initial outflow of sand, the flow from the lower end of thetubular member 27 becomes slower, and is suflicient to merely replace the sand which is thrown or rubbed off from the wheels during their rotation. For that purpose, the hole 30 is made sufficiently. small to permit only such reduced flow.

To aid against the accidental induction; of water into the enclosed sand filled chambers of the device, the nozzle member 37 isspaced a substantial distance from the lower end of the tubular member 27'. This nozzle member 37 is thus out of the direct path of the water raining, or snowing.

The sand container with its associated tubular member 27 are so mountedthat if, desired, as for instance, when it is necessary old sand therein, said container may be easily removed from its position on the running board 10 merely by a pulling action on said tubular member.

In dry weather, where the use of such a sanding de- '-.i vice is not necessary, the container with its associated tubular member 27 may be easily removed from the running board, leaving the running board unincumbered.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A vehicle having a running board provided with an aperture therethrough, a collapsible sand bag having a lower open end, a plate closing said open end and having and opening therethrough, a tubular member connected to said plate for delivering sand in advance of the vehicle wheels, and communicating with the interior of said sand bag, said tubular member passing through the aperture of said running board, so that the sand bag when'mounted in position will be disposed over said running board in close proximity thereto,

said sand bag, plate, and tubular member being connected nected to said container, and communicating with the interior thereof, a'nozzle member 1nside said tubular member, and having the ejection end thereof spaced above the lower end of said tubular member, and a closure member within said tubular member operating with the end of said nozzle member.

3. A sanding device a sand container, a tubular member connected to said container and communicating with the interior thereof, a nozzle member disposed in said tubular member, and spaced above the ejection end 'of said tubular member, a valve plate extending across the ejection end of said nozzle member, spring means for normally holding said valve plate in closure relationship with the ejection end of said nozzle member, and means for actuating said valve plate for controlling the flow of sand from the sandingdevicer' 4;. A. sanding device for vehicles, including a sand container, a tubular member conin g the ejection end thereof spaced above the ejection end of said tubular member, a clo- 7 sure member cooperating with said ejection endof said nozzle member, spring means for normally urging'said closure member into closure relationship with the ejection end of said nozzle member, a stem connected to said closure member, and means engaging said stem for tilting said closure member to ,permit cutflow'of sand from said nozzle member.

5. A sanding device for vehicles, including a sand container, a tubular member connected to said container, and communicating with the interior thereof, a nozzle member disposed in the interior of'said' tubular memher, and having the ejection end thereof spaced from the ejection end of said tubular member, a valve at the outlet of said nozzle memberya plate extending across the ejection outlet of said tubular member and operatively connected to said valve, and means foil moving said plate to thereby open said va ve.

ing a sand container, a depending tubular member communicating with the interior thereof, a nozzle disposed inside said tubular member and spaced from the ejection end of said tubular member, closure means cooperating with the ejection end of said nozzle and adapted to control the flow of sand from said tubular member, a plate extending across the outlet end of said tubular member, spring means for normally urging said plate in engagement with the outlet end of said and cofor Vehicles, including 6. A sanding device for vehicles, includbe lifted away from said proof material,

tubular member, and means for elfectingthe simultaneous movement of. said plate and said closure member to'control' the flow of sand from the device."

7. A sanding device for vehicles, including a sand container, a-tubular: member connected to said container and-communicating with the interior disposed inside said tubular member and adapted to controlthe flow of sand from said. a plate normally extending. .across the ejection end of tubular member,

said tubular member, means for shift-ing said plate away from the ejection end of said tubular member, and

means responsiveto the movement of said plate member after it has moved a substantial distance from its normal position for moving said closure member into open 'position. I

8.-A vehicle having a running board, a sand container, a tubular member connected to said sand container, and extending through an opening in' said running board, said opening being of such size as to effect a firm frictional engagement between the running board and said tubular member while permitting said tubular member to be easily pulled out of engagement with said running board, said sand container being disposed directly o'ver and close to said running board, and means for controlling the flow of sand from said tubular member.

9. A sanding device for vehicles, including a sand container having a tubular member connected with the interior thereof, a

nozzle disposed inside said-tubular member,

and having the ejection end thereof spaced from the e ection end of said tubular member, a. closure member cooperating with the Z ejection end of said nozzle, a stem connected to said closure member, yond the ejection end of said tubular member, a plate mounted independently of said tnbular'member, and normally engaging the and extending bee ection end of the latter, and having an opening through which said stem passes, said opening being larger than said stem, whereby the container andtubular member may plate, and means for moving said plate to engage said stem and open said closure member.

10. A sanding device for vehicles, including-a sand bag made of collapsible watera rigid'plate connected to the open end of said sand bag, therewith a sand container, said plate having an opening therethrough, a tubular member connected to said rigid plate for delivering sand from said bag in advance of a wheel of the'vehicle, a screen disposed inside said container and over said opening, said screen being in conical form, a plate extending across the opening of said rlgld plate, and

, having an aperture substantiallysmaller than the opening in said rigid plate, anozzle disthereof, a closure member.

and forming posed in said tubular member, and having the ejection end thereof spaced from the ejection end of said tubular member, a closure plate extending across the ejection end of said nozzle, a stem connected to the central portion of said plate, a spring extending between said closure plate and said firstmentioned plate, and adapted to normally maintain said closure plate in closurerelationship with the ejection end of said nozzle, said stein extending beyond the ejection outlet of the tubular member, a plate. extending across the outlet of said tubular member, and having an opening to permit the passage of said stem therethrough, spring means for urging said last mentioned plate into contact with the outlet opening of said tubular member, a bracket disposed under the running board of said vehicle, means for mounting said last 1nentioned plate to said bracket, and means for swinging said last. mentioned plate away from the outlet opening of said tubular member, whereby the plate will engage said stem and swing said closure plate into open position to permit the flow of sand therefrom.

11. A sanding device for vehicles, including a sand bag,made of collapsible material,

a rigid plate encircled by the portion. of said bag adjoining theopen end thereof, a strap fitted around said plate and bag, said plate being provided with an opening to permit thefiow of sand therethrough, means for supporting said bag and its associatedplate on the vehicle, and means for locking the strap aroundthe bag, and-locking the plate to the vehicle. 7 i V 12.1 1 sanding device for vehicles, including a collapsible sand bag, a platehaving a peripheral groove, and 'encircledb'y the portion of said bag adjoining the open end there of, said plate having an opening to permit the flow of sand therethrough, a strap extending around said bag, and engaging the groove of said plate, and means for supporting said bag and its associated plate on the vehicle.- 13. A sanding device" for vehicles, including a sand container having anoutlet opening at the bottom thereof, to permitthe flow of sand therethrough, and a screen disposed.

inside said container and over said opening, said screen having its general surface sloping upwardly at a steep angle with respect to the base, whereby the sand lumps that cannot pass through the screen roll downwardly along the surface to the base of the screen, the base of said screen encircling said open ing, said opening being smaller than the bottom wall of saidcontainer, and the base of said screen being spaced fromthe side walls of said container to permit the larger lumps of sand which roll from the sloping surface of the screen to collect. in the space between the base of said screen and said side 14.. A vehicle Wheel having a running board provided with an aperture therethrough a sand container, and a tubular member connected to said sand container, and extending through the aperture of said run- 

